It’s been 22 months since UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (19-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) last fought in the octagon. While he’s set a personal goal of returning in early 2014, Cruz admits it’s still up to doctors to give him the green light.

“I’m just setting personal goals to be back,” Cruz told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I’m looking to be back the beginning of next year is what it’s looking like from what the doctors have told me, to that’s my goal. Unfortunately, the doctor hasn’t even released me, so I couldn’t even make a date if I wanted to.

“It’s like when you got knocked out and you get put on suspension. It’s the same type of deal with this injury. There’s a set time and stipulation with a knee injury that I’ve gone through, especially doubled. So I’m just listening to the doctor so I stay back and don’t just come back.”

Cruz, of course, has battled through a pair of ACL surgeries over the past two years, leaving him unable to defend the UFC bantamweight title. A trilogy match with rival Urijah Faber was canceled along the way, and the promotion instituted an interim belt during Cruz’s time off.

At just 28 years old, Cruz has missed a huge part of his physical prime, and he admits it’s been a difficult road back to full health. But the goal-driven Cruz said he hasn’t let himself sulk.

“Of course you get depressed, but I gave myself the time to be depressed, and I put a limit on it,” Cruz said. “I gave myself three days after it happened, and I cried and whined and felt sorry for myself for a good three days, and I allowed myself the sorrows of losing my knee and losing my opportunities. After those three days were up though, I made a personal decision that I was done feeling sorry for myself, and I made that goal right when I hurt my knee.

“I said I’m going to give myself three days and feel sorry and sad. After that, there is no option to feel that way, and I’m just going to think positive. the only way you get back is to believe in yourself and be positive. That’s the only way you get back from an injury like this.”

Brazilian sensation Renan Barao claimed the interim belt in Cruz’s absence, and he’ll look to defend it again in September in the co-feature of UFC 165, where he meets Eddie Wineland. Should Barao win, it would be his second successful defense of the interim title, and some observers have suggested the UFC should strip Cruz of the belt to allow Barao to shed the interim tag. UFC President Dana White has thus far refused to take that step and instead stood firm behind the injured Cruz, who said it’s comforting to know his employers understand his plight.

“It has to mean something to you if your bosses are saying we believe in you,” Cruz said. “I think the reason why they’re behind me is because they know I’m not just sitting around doing nothing. They know I’m taking every step physically possible to be back. Two months ago, if it was possible, I would have been.

“I’ve sat down and had meetings with them. I’ve looked in their eyes. They’ve looked in my eyes. There’s an understanding of where I’m at and my goals and my focus, and they know as much as I know that my focus is to fight. I’m not an analyst first. I’m not a coach first. I’m not a teammate first. I’m a fighter first. That’s what I’m in this world to do right now, I believe.”

Should Cruz make it back from his injuries in time for an early 2014 appearance, it could very well be a title unification bout against the Barao vs. Wineland winner. Both fighters present legitimate challenges, especially for anyone looking to return from a two-year layoff. Some observers have suggested Cruz would be better off willingly relinquishing the belt in order to face a lesser opponent on his return.

“The Dominator” could not disagree more.

“First of all, it’s silly to think that a champion would ever willingly give away the belt that he’s worked for,” Cruz said. “I’ve defended it four times – not once, not twice, not three times. Four times if you count the WEC. Not just that, but boxing is the only sport where you can get an easy fight before you fight for the title. That’s the difference between boxing and mixed martial arts, and that’s why mixed martial arts is the fastest growing sport in the world and not boxing.

“Anyone I fight in my division is just as threatening as Renan Barao or Eddie Wineland. It’s just they may have a few less tools or a few less wins or maybe a little less focus. It’s all little things here and there that can change the style and the dynamic of the fight, but the bottom line is everybody in my division is just as dangerous to me, so why would I want to take a step back? I’m in the position. I’ve been the champion. I want to challenge myself and fight the best in the world. Whether I’ve had two years off or not doesn’t make any difference.”

Cruz is scheduled to return to his doctor this week, and he hopes he’ll be cleared to begin grappling again. Little by little, he’s building himself back to full strength, and he believes he’ll be able to return at the same high level that saw him rattle off 10 straight wins before suffering the injury.

“I have so much to do,” Cruz said. “I’m only 28 years old, and yes this injury is very bad and I’ve had a couple back-to-back, but the truth is it’s part of this sport, and I’m just going to have to adjust to it. Right now I’m in physical therapy and just working my leg back. Once my leg is back and I don’t have to think about having my leg back and I can fight in camp, that’s when I can really start thinking about how I’m going to feel when I get out there, preparing myself for the adrenaline rush when I get to walk out that tunnel and fight, getting my mind prepared for just being there again and preparing myself to the best I can. For me, I truly believe it’s just going to be joy.

“I have to say thanks for all the support so far from the fans. I know it’s hard to sit back and wait for me. It could be viewed that I’m sitting back doing nothing, but that’s absolutely not the case. The understanding from the fans and the patience form the fans is veryu much appreciated. I can’t wait to come back and put a show on for them.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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